Spray gun assembly having stir means

ABSTRACT

A pneumatic spray gun container assembly having a suction tube through which a substance to be sprayed, such as paint, feeds from the container proper of the assembly to the spray gun. A stirrer, such as a flexible paddle, is fixed to the suction tube within the container, and the container is rotatable relative to the tube and stirrer to effect stirring of the container contents periodically during spraying operation without opening the container. A finger operated latch is provided for releasably securing the suction tube and container in a fixed relative angular position between stirrings.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,831,850 Hunter 1 Aug. 27, 1974 SPRAYGUN ASSEMBLY HAVING STIR 3,412,937 11/1968 Chamberlain 239/142 MEANSPrimary Examiner--Lloyd L. King Assistant Examiner-Andres KashnikowAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Boniard 1. Brown 5 7 ABSTRACT A pneumatic spraygun container assembly having a suction tube through which a substanceto be sprayed, such as paint, feeds from the container proper of theassembly to the spray gun. A stirrer, such as a flexible paddle, isfixed to the suction tube within the con tainer, and the container isrotatable relative to the tube and stirrer to effect stirring of thecontainer contents periodically during spraying operation withoutopening the container. A finger operated latch is provided forreleasably securing the suction tube and con tainer in a fixed relativeangular position between stirrings.

13 Claims, 7 Drawing; Figures I 47 6 0 40 /'1 at i I 1 g I 52 l 4% Fl]PAIENIEMucznsu [1? saw MP 3 v BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field ofthe Invention This invention relates generally to pneumatic spray gunsand the like and more particularly to a novel spray gun containerassembly for containing and effecting periodic stirring of the substancebeing sprayed without opening the container proper of the assembly.

2. Prior Art As will appear from the ensuing description, the spray guncontainer assembly of the invention may be utilized on spray guns forspraying vertically any sprayable substance which requires periodicstirring to maintain the substance in proper spraying condition.However, the primary application of the container assembly involvesspraying paint. The container assembly will be described in connectionwith this application. In this regard, it is significant to note at theoutset that in the context of the present disclosure the term paint isused in a broad sense to encompass all sprayable surface coatings,including but not limited to sanding primers, surface primers, and themore usual points, particularly metallic paints, metal fleck paints,polyester fleck paints, pearlescent paints and the like.

A conventional paint spray gun has a spray gun head, referred to hereinsimply as a spray gun, and a container assembly for containing the paintto be sprayed.

This container assembly includes a paint container proper having aremovable cover which is secured to the container by a cover clamp, anda suction tube extending through the container to a position adjacentthe container bottom and through the container cover and cover clamp tothe spray gun. On the upper end of the suction tube is a coupling forsecuring the tube to the gun. The gun is supplied with high pressure airwhich asperates paint from the paint container through the suction tubeand expels the paint through the gun nozzle in the form of a finelyatomized spray.

Conventional spray guns of this kind have one inherent disadvantage withwhich the present invention is concerned. This disadvantage stems fromthe fact that many if not all paints of the kind contemplated in thepresent invention are composed of various constituents which tend toseparate. As a consequence, it is essential that such paints be stirredor otherwise agitated periodically during a spraying operation tomaintain them in the properly thoroughly mixed or homogeneous conditionfor optimum spraying. Unless the paints are thus agitated at'frequentintervals, separation of the paint constituents will occur, with variousresultant adverse effects, such as spraying of blotches, nonuniformcoating of the work surface, clogging of the spray gun, and the like.

The disadvantage of conventional spray guns resides in the fact that theonly effective way of agitating or stirring the paint being sprayed isto open the paint container and manually stir the paint with a paddle orthe like. This requires release of the paint container cover clamp,removal of the container from the spray gun, stirring of the paint, andreassembly of the container on the spray gun. The entire operation isquite time consuming and, since it must be repeated at relativelyfrequent intervals, i.e., about every twenty minutes or so, it extendssubstantially the time required to complete a spraying job.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention avoids the abovedisadvantage of conventional spray guns which permits the paint or othersubstance being sprayed to be agitated or stirred without removal,opening, closing, and reassembly of the spray gun container. To thisend, the invention provides a container assembly for a spray gun havinga container proper for the substance to be sprayed. Extending throughthis container to a position adjacent the container bottom and throughthe container top or cover is the usual suction tube mounting an uppercoupling for connection to the spray gun, i.e., spray gun head. Thecontainer cover may be secured to the container by the usual cover clamparrangement commonly used in spray guns.

This cover clamp comprises a bridge which extends diametrically over thecover and releasably secured at its ends to diametrically opposite sidesof the container mouth. Between this bridge and the cover is a rotarycam or wedge-like clamp member which is rotatable, by means of aradially projecting handle, between cover-locking or clamping andcover-releasing positions. When in locking position, the clamp memberclamps the cover firmly against the rim of the container mouth. When inreleasing position, the clamp member releases the clamping pressure onthe cover to permit removal or separation of the container from theclamp bridge and removal of the cover from the container.

According to the present invention, the suction tube is journalled forrotation in the container cover and extends rotatably through the coverclamp member and bridge. Accordingly, when the container assembly isinstalled on the spray gun, the container may be manually rotated aboutthe suction tube. Fixed to the suction tube within the container is astirrer, such as a paddle, disposed in scraping contact with the sideand bottom walls of the container. When the container is rotated, thestirrer or paddle effectively undergoes relative rotation through thecontainer contents to stir the latter without removal of the containerfrom the spray gun.

The disclosed stirrer is a flexible paddle which guides in a directionopposite to the direction of its relative rotation through the contentsof the container when the latter is rotated. This yielding actionprevents wedging or binding of the paddle in the container. According toanother feature of the invention, a readily finger operated latch isprovided for releasably locking the container in a fixed angularposition and, thereby, the container in a fixed angular positionrelative to the spray gun.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of aspray gun and container assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of the spray gun;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the spray gun structure shown in FIG. 3illustrating an anti-rotation or indexing latch of the invention inlatching position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the latch released;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the spray gun and containerassembly of the invention with parts broken away; and

FIG. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 in FIG. illustrating the yieldingaction of the stirring paddle.

FIG. 7 is a section taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The drawings illustrate a paintsprayer 10 including a spray gun l2 proper and a container assembly 14for containing the paint to be sprayed. Spray gun R2 is conventional andhence need not be described in elaborate detail. Suffice it to say thatthe spray gun includes a body 16 having a downturned hand grip 18 at oneend, a removable nozzle 20 at the other end, and a threaded suctionfitting 22 at the underside of the body, just to the rear of the nozzle20. Secured to and extending from the butt end of the hand grip I8 is anair inlet fitting 24 for connection to an air hose 26. Hose 26 connectsto a source (not shown) of high pressure air.

Extending through the spray gun body 16 is an air passage (not shown)communicating the air inlet 24 to the nozzle orifice 28. A valve (notshown) is located in this air passage for controlling air flow throughthe passage to the nozzle orifice. This valve is normally closed toblock air flow through the passage and is operatively connected to atrigger 30 pivotally mounted on the gun body 16 in such a way that thevalve is opened to permit air flow to the nozzle orifice 28 by rearwarddepression of the trigger toward the hand grip 18.

Within the air passage in the vicinity of the suction fitting 22 is aventuri (not shown) through which air flow occurs to the nozzle orifice28. This air flow creates a suction within the passage through thefitting 22.

The container assembly 14 constitutes the major contribution of thepresent invention. This container assembly includes a container body 32proper for containing the substance 34 to be sprayed, in this instance,paint. Container body 32 has a side wall 36, bottom wall 38, and an opentop or mouth surrounded by a rim 40. The open mouth of the containerbody is closed by a removable cover 44 releasably secured to thecontainer body by cover clamping means 46. Cover 44 has a vent port 47.Container body 32 and its cover 44, when clamped to the body, form aclosed container which, for convenience, is hereafter referred to ascontainer 32. The cover forms the top wall of this container.

Extending through the interior of the container 32 to a positionadjacent the bottom container wall 38 is a suction tube 48. Sucrion tube48 extends through the center of the container cover 44 and the coverclamping means 46. On the upper end of the suction tube is a couplingmember or nut 50 which is threaded on the suction fitting 22 of thespray gun 12.

From the description to this point, it is apparent that when the spraygun trigger 30 is depressed, high velocity air flow occurs through thespray gun air passage to the nozzle orifice 28. This air flow produces asuction in the interior passage of the suction tube 48 which draws paint34 from the container 32 into the air stream flowing through the spraygun air passage. The paint is entrained in the air stream and expelledas a finely atomized spray through the nozzle orifice 28.

As noted earlier, the paint 34 within the container 32 must be agitatedor stirred at frequent intervals to prevent separation of the paintingredients and thereby maintain the paint in the proper condition forspraying.

According to this invention, the container assembly 14 is uniquelyconstructed to permit this periodic stirring action without removal ofthe paint container 32 from the spray gun 12.

To this end the container 32 is rotatable by hand relative to thesuction tube 48. Fixed to the tube within the container is a stirrer 52.When the container is rotated on the suction tube, as indicated by thearrow in FIG. I, the stirrer 52 and the paint 34 within the containerundergo relative rotation with resultant relative rotational motion ofthe stirrer through the paint. This relative motion of the stirrereffectively agitates or stirs the paint to maintain the latter in athoroughly mixed h0- mogeneous state suitable for spraying.

Referring in greater detail to the particular container assembly 14selected for illustration, the container 32 has a jar-like shape withits upper end reduced somewhat in diameter to form the container mouth.The container cover 44 includes a cap 54 with a downturned peripheralflange 56 which fits over the container rim 40. Fixed to the inside ofthis cap is a sealing disc or gasket 58 which seats on the rim. At thecenter of the cover cap 54 is an enlarged or thickened portion 60 havinga central bore forming a bearing.

The cover clamping means 46 comprises a bridge 64 having an upwardlyarching central section 66 which extends over and diametrically acrossthe cover 44 and terminates in downturned ends 68 which straddle thecover and the container rim 40. These bridge ends have lateral slots 70which open through opposite edges of the ends and hence in the samecircumferential direction of the container 32. Projecting fromdiametrically opposite sides of the container, just below its rim 40,are a pair of pins 72 which engage in the bridge slots 70. The container32 may thus be secured to and released from the bridge 64 by rotatingthe container relative to the bridge to engage the pins 72 in andretract the pins from the bridge slots 70.

Turning to FIG. 5, the bridge central section 66 has a bottomchannel-like cross-section with aligned bores 74 in its upper and lowerwalls at the center of the bridge. Rotatably journalled in these boresis a rotary clamp member or wedge 76. The upper end of this clamp memberextends above the bridge 64 and is enlarged to form a shoulder 78. Thelower end of the clamp member extends below the bridge and has a reducedlower extension which extends rotatably through the container coverbearing 60. At the upper end of this extension is a shoulder 82 on theclamp member 76 which seats against the upper side of the cover bearing.The lower end of the extension extends below the cover bearing andmounts a nut 84 which secures the cover 44 in position on the clampmember 76 between its shoulder 82 and the nut. Sufficient clearance isprovided to permit free relative rotation of the cover and clamp member.

Rotary clamp member 76 has a pair of annular shoulders 86 and 88.Shoulder 86 is located within the bridge 64 in a plane normal to theaxis of the clamp member. Shoulder 88 is located directly below and in aplane inclined at an acute angle to the shoulder 86. Shoulder 88 has adiameter (in the plane of FIG. 5) larger than that of the lower bore 74in the bridge 64 and serves as an inclined locking shoulder. It will beseen that this locking shoulder extends through the lower bridge bore74, which is elongated normal to the plane of FIG. 5 to pass theshoulder, so as to engage under the lower bridge wall at one side of thebore and over this wall at the opposite side of the bore.

Rotation of the clamp member 76 is thus effective to move or cam themember axially relative to the bridge 64. The container cover 44, beingsecured to the clamp member, moves with the member relative to thebridge. Thus rotation of the clamp member in one direction draws thecover toward the bridge and away from the container rim 40. Rotation ofthe member in the opposite direction moves the cover away from thebridge and toward the container rim. It will be understood, therefore,that when the bridge. 64 is secured to the container pins 72, the cover44 may be clamped against the container rim 40 by rotation of the clampmember 76 in one direction. Rotation of the clamp member in the oppositedirection removes the clamping pressure from the cover to permitseparation of the container 32 from the bridge 64 and reattachment ofthe container to the bridge by rotation of the container relative to thebridge, as explained earlier. The clamp member has a radial handle orfinger piece 90 for turning the member between these clamping andreleasing positions.

Suction tube 48 extends rotatably through a central bearing bore 92 inthe clamp member 76. Welded or otherwise rigidly joined to the tubebelow the lower clamp member nut 84 is a collar 94. A washer 96 ispositioned on the tube between this collar and nut. A collar 98 iswelded or otherwise rigidly joined to the suction tube 48 above theupper clamp member shoulder 78. Thus, the cover 44, bridge 64 and clampmember;

76 are all captivated between the suction tube collars 94, 98. However,the tube is free to turn relative to the cover, bridge, clamp member,and container 32. It will be understood, therefore, that when the partsare assembled as in FIG. 5, and the cover 44 is clamped to the container32, the container may be rotated relative to the suction tube 48 and thespray gun 12 fixed to the upper tube end. The cover 44, bridge 64, andclamp member 76 all rotate in unison with the container.

A releasable latch 100 (FIGS. 2-4) is provided for releasably lockingthe container 32 in its position of FIG. 1, wherein the handle 90 of theclamp member 76 extends away from the spray gun hand grip 18 so as tonot interfere with holding the gun. This latch comprises a wire latchmember 102 which is pivoted between its ends on a stud or pivot pin 104extending from one side of the upper suction tube 98. One end of latchmember 102 extends toward the spray gun handle 18 and is bent, as shown,to form a finger piece or handle 106. The opposite end of the latchmember is bent to form a latch detent or arm 108 which is engageable ingrooves 110, 112 in the upper clamp member shoulder 78 and suction tubecollar 98 when the parts are in the positions shown. The latch member102 is biased to this position by a spring 114 connected to the sprayhead 12.

It will now be understood that when in its position of FIG. 3, the latcharm 108 of the latch member 102 engages on the aligned latch grooves110, 112 to lock the container 32 in its position of FIG. 1. Depressionof the latch handle 106, as shown in FIG. 4, rotates the latch arm 108from the latch groove 110 to release the container 32 for rotation. Itwill be observed that the latch member 102, when released, serves alsoas an indexing means which automatically engages when the container isrotated to its position of FIG. 1.

Suction tube 48 is a relatively rigid metal tube or the like. The lowerend of this tube curves toward the container side wall 36, as shown inFIG. 5. As noted earlier, a stirrer 52 is secured to the tube within thecontainer 32. The stirrer shown is a resiliently flexible plastic ormetal vane or paddle reinforced by a vertical spring strip 116 and anupper horizontal mounting strip 118 along the upper paddle edge. Thismounting strip is welded or otherwise rigidly joined to the suction tube18 in such a way that the paddle 52 has a vertical edge wiping contactwith the container side wall 36 and its lower edge in wiping contactwith the container bottom wall 38.

In use, the container cover clamping member 76 is rotated to itsreleased position and the container 32 is removed for filling with thesubstance 34, in this instance paint, to be sprayed. The container isthen replaced and locked in position with the cover 44 clamped to thecontainer. The spray gun may then be operated to spray the paint orother substance by depression of its trigger 30.

Periodically during the spraying operation, the latch is released andthe container 32 is rotated by hand. This container rotation causesrelative rotational motion of the paddle 52 through the containercontents 34 to stir or agitate the same. The container is rotated in thedirection of the arrows in FIGS. 1 and 6 to cause flexing of the paddleaway from the suction tube 48, as depicted in FIG. 6, and therebyprevent wedging or binding of the paddle in the container. After eachstirring operation, the container is returned to its position of FIG. 1,wherein the latch 100 automatically reengages to lock the container inposition.

What is claimed as new in support of Letters Patent 1. A containerassembly for a spray gun or the like comprising:

a closed container for the substance to be sprayed,

a suction tube extending rotatably through one wall of said containerhaving an outer end outside the container,

a stirrer secured to said tube within said container,

and

exposed means secured to the outer end of said tube whereby said lattermeans and container may be grasped to effect relative rotation of saidcontainer and tube and thereby relative rotation of said stirrer andcontainer.

2. A container assembly according to claim 1 wherein:

said one wall is the top container wall, and

said stirrer is a paddle having one edge in scraping contact with thebottom container wall and an edge in scraping contact with the containerside wall.

3. A container assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

said stirrer is a paddle disposed in scraping contact with one containerwall and is flexible so as to yield during relative rotation of saidcontainer and suction tube.

4. A container assembly according to claim I wherein:

said container comprises an open container body and a removable coverwhich closes said body and constitutes said one container wall.

5. The combination according to claim 1 wherein:

said stirrer is a paddle having one edge in scraping Contact with thebottom container wall and an edge in scraping contact with the containerside wall.

6. A container assembly according to claim 4 including:

a cover clamping bridge extending over said cover and secured to saidcontainer body, and a rotary clamping member between said bridge andcover rotatable between cover clamping and releasing positions, and

said suction tube extends rotatably through said bridge and clampingmember.

7. A container assembly according to claim 6 including:

a coupling member on the upper end of said suction tube for couplingsaid upper tube end to a spray said paddle is flexible and is secured atits upper end only to said suction tube so as to yield during relativerotation of said container and suction tube in one direction.

11. The combination according to claim 5 wherein:

said paddle is flexible and is secured at its upper end only to saidsuction tube so as to yield during relative rotation of said containerand suction tube in one direction.

l2. In combination:

a spray gun,

a closed container for a substance to be sprayed,

means connecting said spray gun and container for passage of saidsubstance from said container to said spray gun including a suction tubeextending rotatably through the top wall of said container a stirrersecured to said tube within said container,

and

said container being rotatable relative to said tube and spray gun toeffect relative rotation of said container and stirrer for stirring thecontainer contents without removing the container from said spray gun.

13. The combination according to claim 12 including:

means for locking said spray gun and said container against relativerotation.

1. A container assembly for a spray gun or the like comprising: a closedcontainer for the substance to be sprayed, a suction tube extendingrotatably through one wall of said container having an outer end outsidethe container, a stirrer secured to said tube within said container, andexposed means secured to the outer end of said tube whereby said lattermeans and container may be grasped to effect relative rotation of saidcontainer and tube and thereby relative rotation of said stirrer andcontainer.
 2. A container assembly according to claim 1 wherein: saidone wall is the top container wall, and said stirrer is a paddle havingone edge in scraping contact with the bottom container wall and an edgein scraping contact with the container side wall.
 3. A containerassembly according to claim 1, wherein: said stirrer is a paddle paddledisposed in scraping contact with one container wall and is flexible soas to yield during relative rotation rotation of said container andsuction tube.
 4. A container assembly according to claim 1 wherein: saidcontainer comprises an open container body and a removable cover whichcloses said body and constitutes said one container wall.
 5. Thecombination according to claim 1 wherein: said stirrer is a paddlehaving one edge in scraping contact with the bottom container wall andan edge in scraping contact with the container side wall.
 6. A containerassembly according to claim 4 including: a cover clamping bridgeextending over said cover and secured to said container body, and arotary clamping member between said bridge and cover rotatable betweencover clamping and releasing positions, and said suction tube extendsrotatably through said bridge and clamping member.
 7. A containerassembly according to claim 6 including: a coupling member on the upperend of said suction tube for coupling said upper tube end to a spraygun.
 8. A container assembly according to claim 7 including: means forreleasably locking said suction tube and container against relativerotation.
 9. A container assembly according to claim 8 wherein: said onewall is the top container wall, and said stirrer is a paddle having oneedge in scraping contact with the bottom container wall and an edge inscraping contact with the container side wall.
 10. A container assemblyaccording to claim 9 wherein: said paddle is flexible and is secured atits upper end only to said suction tube so as to yield during relativerotation of said container and suction tube in one direction.
 11. Thecombination according to claim 5 wherein: said paddle is flexible and issecured at its upper end only to said suction tube so as to yield duringrelative rotation of said container and suction tube in one direction.12. In combination: a spray gun, a closed container for a substance tobe sprayed, means connecting said spray gun and container for passage ofsaid substance from said container to said spray gun including a suctiontube extending rotatably through the top wall of said container astirrer secured to said tube within said container, and said containerbeing rotatable relative to said tube and spray gun to effect relativerotation of said container and stirrer for stirring the containercontents without removing the container from said spray gun.
 13. Thecombination according to claim 12 including: means for locking saidspray gun and said container against relative rotation.